Excavating-machine.



PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906. i

G. G. JACOBS. EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED ulm. 190e.

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No. 829,214. PATENTBD AUG. 21, 1906. G. G. JAS.-

EXGAVTING ISIAGHMNE.` APPLICATION FILED un. n. 196s.

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N0. 829,214. PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906.

C. G. JACOBS. V

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2. 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. JACOBS, OF AMBOY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORTO JACOBS STEEL EXUAVATOR COMPANY, OF AMISOY, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1906.

Application tiled January 2. 1906. Serial No. 294|202.

To a/ZZ whom it 11i/wy concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. JACOBS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amboy, in the county of Lee and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Excavatin y -Machines, of which the following is a speci cation.

This invention` relates to excavating-Inachines of that general type wherein one or more buckets or scoops provided with a forward cutting edge is recl rocated across the ditch or trench to be dug )y means of a chain or cable to which it is attached, said bucket or scoop1 being guided in its travel by a fixed guide aving approximately the outline, form, or contour of the ditch or trench to be dug. A machine of this type is illustrated in Letters Patent No. 794,410, granted to me July 11, 1905, and my present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon machines of this type having for its object to increase the e'fliciency and control of the bucket during its operative or cutting movement. In the machine of the patent above referred to the bucket-operating cable is connected to the rear of the bucket in order to ermit it to be automatically inverted on discharging, and the correct direction of movement of the bucket and of its cutting edge is determined by the guide. Experience has shown that such an arrangement imposes severe strains upon the guide, especially at the point where the bucket turns from the bottom horizontal wall of the trench to one of the inclined side walls on its cutting movement; and the object of the present invention is to provide a construction wherein the pull of the cable may be applied at the forward end of the bucket without interfering with the self-discharging capability of the bucket.

My invention will be readily understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, whereink Figure 1 is an elevational view of a machine similar to that shown in my prior patent above referred to and having my present improvements embodied therein. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of one end of the bucket-guide, showing the bucket-discharging means. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the gulde shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the guide, showing the manner in 'which the bucket-carrier is mounted therein. Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a bucket-carrier and bucket equipped with my present improvements. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a detall view in cross-section through a ortion of the bucket-carrier frame, clearly il ustrating the means for detachably connecting the forward end of the bucket-bail to the bucketcarrier.

Referring to the drawings and first briefly describing the principal parts of the machine in connection with which the present invention is shown, 5 designates as an enti'rety the main frame of the excavating-machine, the same being mounted on wheels 6, running on rails 7', whereby the machine is moved bodily along and over its Yfield of o eration. 8 designates as an entirety a guidji in channel-track form mounted on and transversely of the main excavator-frame with capacity for vertical adjustment therein, said guide conforming to the outline contour of the ditch or trench to be dug and forming a rigid track, on which are mounted a series of rectangular trucks 9, carrying buckets or scoops 10. To the under side of the outer ends of the guide-track 8 are secured V- shaped frames 11, provided with supportingtracks, on which the forward wheels of the truck-frames are adapted to run, said forward wheels entering the same through openings 12, Fig. 3, in the tracks of the main guide, for which purpose the forward truckwheels are made narrower than the rear truck-wheels, as shown in Fig. 6. At each outer end of the guide is mounted a guidepulley 13, over which is trained the bucketoperating cable 14. Preferably a pair of oppositely or inversely disposed buckets are employed, the adjacent rear axles of their respective trucks being connected by one or more links 15, Fig. 2. The machine as thus far'described is substantially identical with the machine disclosed in the Letters Patent above referred to, to which reference may be had for a more com lete description.

Considering now t iose features of improvement in which. my present invention more articularly resides, 16 designates a forked Fail that is mounted at its wide end on thc pivot-bolt 17, by which the bucket is pivoted in its truck-frame. This bail, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is suitably curved or bent to normally overlie and extend forwardly of the upper forward edge of the bucket 1.0, herein represented by a transverse angle-bar 18, the ends of which latter, as shown in Fig. 6, overlic the upper edges of the side members of the truck-frame 9, whereby the depth to which the lower forward cutting edge 19 of the bucket may penetrate the ground is limited, it being observed that the opposite up )er side edges of the bucket are also preferably equipped with flange-plates 20, also overlying the side frame members for this purpose. The bail 1G extends forwardly of the up er forward. edge of the bucket and is provi( ed between its parallel side bars with a l transverse catch 2l, Fig. 7, that is adapted to be engaged by the upper end of a hook 22, ivoted at 23 to the forward transverse memer of the truck-frame. 24 designates a stop limiting the forward movement of the hook, the latter being allowed a limited backward swing sufficient to disengage it from the catch. The upper end of the hook is formed with an inclined edffe 25 to facilitate the return engagement ofD the bail therewith after having been disconnected therefrom. The bucket-operatinfT cable 14 is connected to the forward end of tgfle bail 16 of each bucket, as shown.

In operation as the cable 14 draws the two buckets across the ditch along the guide 8 the forward or advance bucket takes a load of earth, the bail 16 occupying the position relative to the bucket shown in Fig. 5, wherein the hook 22 is engaged with the catch 21 during the travel of the operatingbucket down one side of the ditch, across the bottom of the ditch, over the angle between the bottom and the other side. As thc bucket makes this latter turn the engagement of the hook 2^) with the catch 21 of the bail causes the upward pull of the cable to be exerted directly on the forward end of the bucket carrier, and thereby releases the guide-track of severe strain at this point, whereas where the cable is connected directly to the pivot-bolt 17 or rear wall of the bucket the strain induced by the upward turning of the forward edge of the bucket under load was borne wholly by the guide-track. As soon as the bucket-carrier has passed in its continued travel wholly onto thc inclined side of the guide the hook 22 pulls back by gravity and releases the catch 2]., thereby allowing the forward wheels of the buckettruck to dro onto the discharge iride-track 11 and the ucket to be inverte the parts taking the positions shown in Fig. 2. On the return travel of the empty bucket as soon as the bucket rides up the opposite inclined side of the guide the hook drops back by gravity again into engagement with the catch 21, and the described operations are repeated. lt will thus be seen that my present improvement provides means for relieving the guidetrack of severe strain under the advance travel` of the bucket from the horizontal to the inclined part of its guide, while at the same time permitting the bucket to automatically upset and discharge its contents at the end of its travel.

l claim-- 1. In an excavator of the class described, the combination with a bucket-carrier and a bucket pivotally mounted therein near its rear end, of a bail pivotally connected to the bucket near its rear end and overlying and extending forwardly of the upper forward edge of the bucket, and means for detachably connecting the forward end of said bail to said bucket-carrier, substantially as and. for the purpose described.

2. In an excavator of the class described, the combination with a bucket-carrier and a bucket pivotally mounted therein near its rear end, of a bail mounted on the bucketpivot and overlying and extending forwardly of the upper forward edge of the bucket, and

a hook detachably connecting the forward end of said bail to said bucket-carrier, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In an excavator of the class described, the combination with a guide, of a truck mounted to travel therein, a bucket pivotally mounted near its rear end in the frame of said truck, a bail pivotally connected to the bucket near its rear end and overlying and extendin forwardly of the upper forward edge of t 1e bucket, and a pivoted hook detachably connecting the forward end of said bail to said truck-frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In an excavator of the class described, the combination with a guide, of a truck mounted to travel near its rear end in the frame of the truck, a bail mounted on the bucketivot and overlying and extending forward y of the upper forward edge of the bucket, a hook pivotally mounted on a member of said truck-frame, and a catch carried by said bail and engaged by said hook, substantially as and for the purpose described.

CHARLES C. JACOBS.

Witnesses:

W. A. GREEN, P. M. JAMES.

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